Biggest Thing To Know

The fight is not over — if anything, it's barely begun. Yet another CBP map change on April 21 indicates that over 150 miles east of Big Bend National Park is now designated as “planned” for a physical border wall instead of detection technology. This area includes private land as well as the Wild and Scenic Portion of the Rio Grande, Black Gap WMA, Seminole Canyon State Park, and Amistad National Recreation Area.

Infrastructure staging has begun on private ranches west of the state and national parks. Contractors are also attempting to establish a man camp in Lobo, Texas between Valentine and Van Horn. 

Fisher Sand & Gravel has rented multiple camper trailer spots at La Loma Paloma RV Park in Presidio, Texas. La Loma Paloma is owned by Terry Bishop. Many locals expressed disappointment and shock at this news, especially since Terry is a board member of the Presidio County Historical Commission and has been a voice for conservation in the past. He had also served on the board of the nonprofit Friends of the Ruidosa Church, but resigned on Sunday.

Landowners are still receiving right of entry notices for surveys from the Army Corps of Engineers (RoE-S). This form only grants permission to survey, but we still recommend landowners do not sign. 

RoE-C (Right of Entry for Construction) notices that are signed by landowners grant the government permission to start construction. Once the government has a section of permission that is several miles long, they will start building. Landowners who sign in favor of construction will have virtually no recourse. 

The Landowner Coalition is gaining traction, with nearly 100 landowners signed up. There’s more information HERE.

What’s Next?

• Outreach is critical to landowners in Presidio and Ruidosa. David Keller and Yolanda Alvarado are coordinating efforts. Anyone interested in learning more can reach out to landowners@conservebigbend.org. 

• Landowners will soon be able to receive free legal representation through a legal defense fund created by the Border Wall Landowner Coalition. If you’re interested in legal representation, please email landowners@conservebigbend.org.

• Signs and posters against the wall are available here. The more vocal we are, the better!

What Happened Last Week?

• A protest in Presidio by the 79852 group drew attention to the concertina wire ahead of monsoon season. 

• Congressional candidate Brandon Herrera was in Alpine talking with potential voters. He answered questions about his position on the wall. 

• Ted Cruz introduced a bill about limiting federal overreach in West Texas — the irony is thick. No Big Bend Wall has been in touch with Ted Cruz’s office about the wall. 

• Presidio is soliciting a formal flood assessment after failing to get responses from the federal government and the International Boundary Water Coalition about how a wall would impact the Rio Grande floodplain. 

Key Upcoming Events

• May 6, 6PM CT: Van Horn Community Meeting at the convention center to discuss the border wall

• May 13, 2PM CT: Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District Meeting - waiting to see if we still have the same agenda item from last month that involved well usage permitting & a potential man camp at Pecan Grove Farm. The meeting will be held in person at 1300 W. Broadway Street, Van Horn, Texas 79855 and virtually at https://meet.goto.com/ccgcd and password is ccgcd.

• May 14, 7 PM CT: Screening of “The River & The Wall” at Confluence Park in San Antonio, Texas. You can reserve your spot here. 

Want to get involved? Email howdy@nobigbendwall.org

Want to donate? Right this way.